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What's up with wireless Apple CarPlay?

iPhone functionality comes to your dash without a wired connection

I've written about car audio and navigation at Crutchfield since 2006. During that time, I've driven to a lot of concerts in many different cities, so portable navigators have come in quite handy. I've also worked at several record stores and volunteered as a DJ at a community radio station, so I've applied the lessons of listening to music from several sources and in various environments to my own evaluations and writing.

Apple CarPlay® performance with wireless convenience

After months of speculation, the first wireless CarPlay receiver finally hit the scene. The Alpine iLX-107 digital media receiver began shipping in the summer of 2017. It doesn't have a CD player but it does boast a built-in Wi-Fi network, which it uses in combination with Bluetooth to communicate with your iPhone. After the initial setup and pairing with your phone, you'll be able to launch CarPlay on the stereo without touching your phone as soon as you get into your vehicle.

And now, more than a year later, there are even more stereos that offer this feature:

Editor's note: The above was an update to our original speculation about wireless Apple CarPlay. We've preserved those thoughts below, in case you want to hear what we had to say back then. But if you don't read any further...you're not missing much. Instead, I suggest you go read our article about the basics of Apple CarPlay – what it is and how to get it.

Ever since it debuted in early 2014, Apple CarPlay™ has been a pretty big deal for car audio-loving iPhone enthusiasts across America. At first, CarPlay compatibility was only available in select Ferrari models, but over time it popped up in other factory stereos. When Pioneer became the first company to introduce CarPlay in their aftermarket stereos, we got really excited.

It’s been several years since CarPlay entered the aftermarket realm. It’s been a boon for many drivers who love its ability to let them use the main functions and apps on their iPhones in a road-friendly manner. Yet, some people have been wondering when a wireless version will be available.

Normally, CarPlay requires a USB-to-Lightning cable connection between the iPhone and the receiver. No Bluetooth® connection or other wireless method of data transfer is involved. When Alpine rolled out their first digital media receiver built specifically for use with CarPlay, the lack of Bluetooth was one of the qualms that people had with it. (Editor's note: Don't worry...they got the memo.)

Rumors have been circulating about wireless CarPlay since the software was included in the initial iteration of iOS 9. So far, there has not been any official hardware (i.e., car stereos) which will work with wireless CarPlay. Everything at this point is still speculative. But we thought it would be fun to imagine what wireless CarPlay might be like.

How would it work?

Without a wired connection, the data transfer between the iPhone and receiver would have to happen via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi®, some combination of the two, or another wireless technology altogether. It seems Bluetooth alone would not be robust enough to transmit large amounts of data between the two devices. This is important so that the stereo can display maps in a timely fashion. That's one of the key benefits of using CarPlay. Bluetooth should work for displaying album artwork, incoming messages, playlists, and songs from an iPhone, but maps will likely require something a little stronger, like Wi-Fi.

If Wi-Fi is involved, then it would have to be built into the receiver. There are only a handful of receivers on the market with Wi-Fi capability right now, and they’re not exactly a bargain. It would be interesting to see what stereo manufacturers think consumers are willing to pay for that just to avoid plugging in their iPhones. On the plus side, Wi-Fi can be really fast if done correctly, which could be great news for audiophiles.

Could it sound great?

If this hypothetical wireless CarPlay receiver depends on Bluetooth for transmitting music between the iPhone and the stereo, then sound quality probably won’t be as good as the present iteration of wired CarPlay. While Bluetooth technology has evolved over the years, it still depends on compression to get data from one device to another. That compression ultimately causes most musical information to suffer in some noticeable way.

However, if Wi-Fi is involved, then there might not be a noticeable loss in sound quality. Wi-Fi can move a lot of data quickly, and one can expect MP3s and AAC (iTunes standard) files to sound about the same as they do through a wired connection. High-resolution lossless music files — such as Apple Lossless (ALAC) — could possibly stream from the phone to the receiver without any loss in quality, depending on a number of factors. This would certainly make wireless CarPlay worth considering for critical listeners.

Would wireless CarPlay really be that much more convenient?

A lot of people don’t think that taking a couple of seconds to connect an iPhone to a stereo with a Lightning cable is a big deal. However, for commuters who have to make multiple stops on short- to medium-length trips, wireless CarPlay could make a world of difference.

Wireless CarPlay with automated pairing would mean that you could leave your phone in your pocket the entire trip, and still access your maps, messages, songs, and podcasts through your stereo. It might not mean much to everyone, but there are certainly a lot of people for whom it would be worth the investment.

So where is wireless CarPlay?

Like we said, people have been asking about wireless CarPlay since its wired debut. We’ve heard the rumors about wireless receivers popping up at various trade shows, but don’t have any official word at this time. Apple’s been busy with the iPhone 7 for the past few months, but now that that’s out, maybe we’ll see some substantial news in the near future. After all, they decided to go wireless with their headphones, so maybe CarPlay is the next logical step. Watch this space for any further developments.

Hi Justin - Great question. I asked Alpine (who were the first to get wireless CarPlay to the aftermarket field) about this and here's what they said:
All data (including music files) are being transferred via Wi-Fi for the wireless CarPlay unit. Bandwidth on the ad hoc Wi-Fi connection is enough to experience little to no loss from what the phone decodes. Basically, if you were to compare the data transfer via USB vs. the data transfer via Wi-Fi, there is no difference.
It should be noted, however, that if the stereo does not play high-resolution (anything over 16-bit/44kHz) audio files from a USB or wired connection, it also won't play them wirelessly. It will likely be able to play the the format as decoded by the phone, but you may not be getting the full hi-res effect from the file once it goes through the stereo. One of our advisors will be happy to help you choose if you have any further questions.

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Justin Garrett from Mount Pleasant

Posted on 10/9/2018

Hi Dominic,
Can you explain how audio streaming takes place via wireless CarPlay? Is it lossy e.g. bluetooth or is it lossless transmission or the original file? Assume the original file is a lossless recording to eliminate confusion. I would not be interested in wireless carplay if it sacrifices sound quality. Thank you, Justin

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David from Wilsonville

Posted on 4/25/2018

I think the bigger gain is on phones with wireless charging. I can just pop my phone into a charging mount without having to line up connectors and get both carplay and charging. No connectors to wear out or get outdated.

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Dominic DeVito from Crutchfield

Posted on 4/24/2018

Hi Ivan - I can honestly say I haven't heard about any new wireless CarPlay stereos coming in the near future from any manufacturer. The licensing process for Apple seems to be fairly deliberate, so the head unit manufacturers (and retailers and consumers) have very little choice but to wait.

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ivan from Austin

Posted on 4/23/2018

Hi Dominic,
Have you heard of new wireless carplay options around now beyond the Alpine? (April 2018)
I was looking with one that contains Navigation too, because I'll be traveling to places with poor cell phone service.

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Dominic DeVito from Crutchfield

Posted on 4/19/2018

Hi Earl - Thanks for your questions. As far as what stereos might have to offer down the road, it really depends on what your definition of "better features" is. Alpine wanted to make a stereo to fill a demand in the market for wireless Apple CarPlay, and that's what the iLX-107 is, and nothing more. Some might balk at the lack of a disc player, built-in navigation, and limited add-on capabilities, but that's not who Alpine made the stereo for. Will other stereos offer "better features" eventually? Most assuredly. When will they be on the market? That's hard to say - Apple's wireless CarPlay licensing process is out of the hands of the stereo manufacturers, and it's not quick. But 3-6 months is a reasonable window for when we might see more options. As far as the brightness issue goes, I would look at the customer reviews and questions and answers on our product page to see how much it gets mentioned, both positively and negatively. Talking to an Advisor always helps, too. And remember: Crutchfield's 60-day return policy gives you plenty of time to try it out to see if it's right for you.

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Dominic DeVito from Crutchfield

Posted on 4/17/2018

Hi Coolandy - Thanks for your question. I don't see car manufacturers getting too deep into the app world to do what you're describing (Android Auto/Apple CarPlay-like features that are platform-agnostic). There are just too many variables involved with communicating between the many different types of phones and operating systems, that I think the car manufacturers would rather leave the app programming to the experts at Apple or Google and partner with them, rather than try to compete with them directly. Add Wi-Fi for wireless communication to the mix and things get even more complicated. Plus, changes in phone hardware technology come much faster than those in the car world, so many potential customers would likely be left behind if new developments required an upgrade that went beyond a simple software implementation.

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Earl from Chesapeake

Posted on 4/16/2018

So I am in the process of getting a older car 2008 Nissan Sentra and I was thinking of getting this Alpine Stereo I have found it for as low as $549 but wanted your opinion. Do you think the next generations and other companies might offer better features? Do you think they will be out in the next 3-6months. I heard this stereo has the issue of brightness if its sunny out you can not see it. Is that True?

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Coolandy from Chicago

Posted on 4/15/2018

What if the apps did the continuity itself wirelessly, instead of having dependency on CarPlay or Android auto? GM has launched it's car app market with apps, so a simple example would be, a music app on your smartphone (Android or iPhone) can relay the info wirelessly to the same music app on GM's platform. Thus, the apps are platform independent and would let it's user's benefit the same features of CarPlay or Android Auto. Would you think this would be a better solution? What type of users will benefit the most? Will Car stereo manufactures also benefit? Also, will app developers see this as an opportunity to penetrate car stereo market?

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Dominic DeVito from Crutchfield

Posted on 4/5/2018

Hi Matt - As of right now, there are no other wireless CarPlay models we can say for sure are on the way, but we've heard strong rumors about upcoming releases for 2018. Most stereo manufacturers are eager to let the world know as soon as possible, but they are usually held up by licensing issues. When things are officially announced, we'll be better able to respond to your query.

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Matt from Claremont

Posted on 4/4/2018

What are the other wireless models are in development and are they expected to be released anytime soon?

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Dominic DeVito from Crutchfield

Posted on 9/20/2017

Jenalee: to follow up on what Lex said, the new iPhones have the capability to do wireless charging on mats, but they still have a Lightning connection at the base and will come with a Lightning cable in the box. The iPhone 8 models and iPhone X should work just fine with Apple CarPlay so long as you have a Lightning cable in your minivan.

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Alexander Hrabe from Crutchfield

Posted on 9/18/2017

Jenalee, the upcoming iPhones should work with Apple CarPlay. However, upgrading to wireless Apple CarPlay is not a firmware update. If you want wireless Apple CarPlay, you would need to install a new stereo in your vehicle. Currently, that feature is only available in one Alpine stereo.

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Jenalee Berger from Layton

Posted on 9/18/2017

I have apple CarPlay in my new minivan. It is a wired connection. Im wondering if it will work with a new iPhone 8 or iPhone x. I heard that the new phones don't have a to plug in a charging cable.

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Dominic DeVito from Crutchfield

Posted on 7/3/2017

Great question, qb. Unfortunately, Apple CarPlay only works with iPhones. And that's too bad because an iPad Mini helping out with navigation and music sounds nifty, as long as it's not distracting. Perhaps in the future Apple will incorporate CarPlay technology into the iPad (especially if demand is there) but for now that's not feasible.

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qb from Durham, NC

Posted on 6/30/2017

I don't own any kind of smartphone and don't want one. I use an iPad Mini with cell service in my car for music and when I need email or maps. I've long wished CarPlay would work with iPads. With the Alpine having "wireless" connectivity I would like to know if it would allow me to use CarPlay with the iPad Mini via Bluetooth (or whatever wireless tech this uses). Can anyone provide a answer once they have a unit in hand? Thanks!

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Alexander Hrabe from Crutchfield

Posted on 4/28/2017

Lowell, there will be wireless Apple CarPlay available in aftermarket head units like this one from Alpine. However, they are not in stock yet and here's what we know: There have been delays getting the necessary certification from Apple for the CarPlay feature. As soon as we have firm shipping information, we will post an official Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) for this radio.

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Lowell from Chandler

Posted on 4/28/2017

BMW has offered Bluetooth connected Apple CarPlay in the 5 Series.
http://www.bmwblog.com/2016/10/21/bmw-first-automaker-introduce-wireless-apple-carplay-integration/
Any news on after factory radios offering this?

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James from Washington D.C.

Posted on 4/24/2017

Bluetooth 5.0 which is on the Samsung Galaxy S8 will hopefully make it to the iPhone 8 by the end of 2017 and then maybe manufactures will start building units with Bluetooth 5.0 for the connection. It certainly will have the bandwidth for it.